Reports Highlighted by MuniNetworks.orghttp://muninetworks.org/reports
MuniNetworks.org Reports FeedenThe Next Generation Connectivity Handbook: A Guide For Community Leaders Seeking Affordable, Abundant Bandwidthhttp://muninetworks.org/reports/next-generation-connectivity-handbook-guide-community-leaders-seeking-affordable-abundant
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<span class="date-display-single">July 21, 2015</span> </div>
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Blair Levin </div>
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Denise Linn </div>
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<p>Gig.U, a collaboration of more than 30 universities across the country has just released <strong><em>The Next Generation Network Connectivity Handbook: A guide for Community Leaders Seeking Affordable, Abundant <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/1#term2"><cite title="The rate at which the network can transmit information across it. Generally, higher bandwidth is desirable. The amount of bandwidth available to you can determine whether you download a photo in 2 seconds or 2 minutes.">Bandwidth</cite></a></em></strong>. The handbook was published in association with the Benton Foundation.</p>
<p>The report underscores the importance of local decision making authority, whether each community chooses to go with a municipally owned model, a public private partnership, or some other strategy.</p>
<p>Blair Levin and Denise Linn also address issues of preparation, assessment, early steps, things to remember when developing partnerships, funding issues, and challenges to expect. They assemble an impressive list of resources that any group, agency, or local government can use to move ahead.</p>
<p><a href="http://muninetworks.org/reports/next-generation-connectivity-handbook-guide-community-leaders-seeking-affordable-abundant" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://muninetworks.org/reports/next-generation-connectivity-handbook-guide-community-leaders-seeking-affordable-abundant#commentsbenton foundationblair levingig.ulessons learnedpartnershipreportresearchresourceuniversityWed, 22 Jul 2015 20:23:27 +0000lgonzalez5768 at http://muninetworks.orgHolyoke: A Massachusetts Municipal Light Plant Seizes Internet Access Business Opportunitieshttp://muninetworks.org/reports/holyoke-massachusetts-municipal-light-plant-seizes-internet-access-business-opportunities
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<span class="date-display-single">July 8, 2015</span> </div>
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David Talbot </div>
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Waide Warner </div>
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Carolyn Anderson </div>
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Daniel Dennis Jones </div>
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<p>Fifteen years ago, Holyoke Gas &amp; Electric &nbsp;(HG&amp;E) began its incremental fiber deployment to meet the need for better connectivity in the community. Since then, they have invested savings created by initial and subsequent investments. Over the years, HG&amp;E expanded their services, becoming the ISP for several local business customers in two nearby communities. HG&amp;E also established a regional interconnection agreement and it is now an ISP for municipal agencies in a third community 30 miles away.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://cyber.law.harvard.edu">Berkman Center</a>'s most recent report, report, "<strong><em><a href="https://cyber.law.harvard.edu/publications/2015/municipal_fiber">Holyoke: A Massachusetts Municipal Light Plant Seizes Internet Access Business Opportunities</a></em></strong>,” documents their story.</p>
<p><a href="http://muninetworks.org/reports/holyoke-massachusetts-municipal-light-plant-seizes-internet-access-business-opportunities" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://muninetworks.org/reports/holyoke-massachusetts-municipal-light-plant-seizes-internet-access-business-opportunities#commentsberkman centereconomic developmentfiberFTTHholyokeincrementalmassachusettsmunireportresourceutilityThu, 09 Jul 2015 15:14:22 +0000lgonzalez5743 at http://muninetworks.orgConnecting 21st Century Cities: A Policy Agenda For Broadband Stakeholdershttp://muninetworks.org/reports/connecting-21st-century-cities-policy-agenda-broadband-stakeholders
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<p><a href="http://nextcenturycities.org/">Next Century Cities</a>, a nonpartisan coalition of 100 communities working to expand Internet access, recently published "<em><a href="http://nextcenturycities.org/connecting-21st-century-communities-a-policy-agenda-for-broadband-stakeholders/">Connecting 21st Century Communities: A Policy Agenda for Broadband Stakeholders</a></em>." This resource brings together timely research, best practices, and examples of successful approaches from around the U.S. and the world - all focused on encouraging ubiquitous Internet access for all. Chris Mitchell, Director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative and the driving force behind MuniNetworks.org, serves as Next Century Cities' Policy Director.</p>
<p><a href="http://muninetworks.org/reports/connecting-21st-century-cities-policy-agenda-broadband-stakeholders" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://muninetworks.org/reports/connecting-21st-century-cities-policy-agenda-broadband-stakeholders#commentschristopher mitchellfederallocalnext century citiespolicyreportresourcestate policyThu, 09 Jul 2015 20:21:09 +0000lgonzalez5746 at http://muninetworks.orgArtificial Scarcity: How Data Caps Harm Consumers and Innovationhttp://muninetworks.org/reports/artificial-scarcity-how-data-caps-harm-consumers-and-innovation
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<span class="date-display-single">June 1, 2015</span> </div>
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Patrick Lucey </div>
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<p>This report by Danielle Kehl and Patrick Lucey examines how <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/1#term2"><cite title="The rate at which the network can transmit information across it. Generally, higher bandwidth is desirable. The amount of bandwidth available to you can determine whether you download a photo in 2 seconds or 2 minutes.">bandwidth</cite></a> caps, in increasingly popular profit grabbing technique among the big ISPs, impact consumer decisions and usage.&nbsp;</p>
<p>From the OTI press release:</p>
<blockquote><p>In this paper, we examine the growth and impact of usage-based pricing and data caps on wired and mobile broadband services in the United States. We analyze the financial incentive that Internet service providers (ISPs) have to implement these usage limits and discuss research that demonstrates how these policies affect consumer behavior. In particular, we explain how data caps can make it harder for consumers to make informed choices; decrease the adoption and use of existing and new online services; and undermine online security.</p>
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<p><a href="http://muninetworks.org/reports/artificial-scarcity-how-data-caps-harm-consumers-and-innovation" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://muninetworks.org/reports/artificial-scarcity-how-data-caps-harm-consumers-and-innovation#commentsThu, 23 Jul 2015 19:31:08 +0000lgonzalez5777 at http://muninetworks.orgCommunity-Based Broadband Solutions: The Benefits of Competition and Choice for Community Development and Highspeed Internet Accesshttp://muninetworks.org/reports/community-based-broadband-solutions-benefits-competition-and-choice-community-development
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<blockquote><p>Affordable, reliable access to high speed broadband is critical to U.S. economic growth and competitiveness. Upgrading to higher-speed broadband lets consumers use the Internet in new ways, increases the productivity of American individuals and businesses, and drives innovation throughout the digital ecosystem. As this report describes, while the private sector has made investments to dramatically expand broadband access in the U.S., challenges still remain. Many markets remain unserved or underserved. Others do not benefit from the kind of competition that drives down costs and improves quality. To help fill the void, hundreds of towns and cities around the country have developed their own locally-owned networks. This report describes the benefits of higher-speed broadband access, the current challenges facing the market, and the benefits of competition – including competition from community broadband networks. - <strong>Executive Summary</strong></p>
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<p>On January 13, 2015, President Barak Obama visited Cedar Falls, Iowa, to discuss his administration's plans to bring better connectivity to American residents and businesses. The centerpiece of his strategy involved removing state barriers to municipal networks and promoting local authority.</p>
<p>In tandem with that speech, the White House released this report. The report includes significant research from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, including community profiles, economic data, and the role if municipal networks in competition.</p>
<p><a href="http://muninetworks.org/reports/community-based-broadband-solutions-benefits-competition-and-choice-community-development" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://muninetworks.org/reports/community-based-broadband-solutions-benefits-competition-and-choice-community-development#commentscedar fallschattanoogafederal governmentiowalafayetteleverettlouisianamassachusettsmunitennesseewilsonWed, 14 Jan 2015 22:20:22 +0000lgonzalez5421 at http://muninetworks.orgFACT SHEET: Broadband That Works: Promoting Competition & Local Choice In Next-Generation Connectivityhttp://muninetworks.org/reports/fact-sheet-broadband-works-promoting-competition-local-choice-next-generation-connectivity
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White House Office of the Press Secretary </div>
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<p>In January 2015, President Barak Obama appeared in Cedar Falls, Iowa, to present his administration's plan to encourage local choice and competition through community networks. The President's strategy includes eliminating barriers to local telecom authority that now exist in 19 states.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The <strong><em>Broadband That Works: Promoting Competition &amp; Local Choice In Next-Generation Connectivity </em></strong>fact sheet, released by the White House Office of the Press Secretary on the eve of the appearance, provides info on several communities served by munis and the benefits they have enjoyed. The fact sheet also outlines five steps the administrations proposes to improves access, adoption, and investment.</p>
<p>For more detailed information, <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/1#term8"><cite title="Internet connections have two components - a downstream and upstream. Downstream refers to the rate at which the user's computer can receive data from the Internet.">download</cite></a> the <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/reports/community-based-broadband-solutions-benefits-competition-and-choice-community-development">accompanying report</a> by the National Economic Council and Council of Economic Advisors.</p>
<p><a href="http://muninetworks.org/reports/fact-sheet-broadband-works-promoting-competition-local-choice-next-generation-connectivity" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://muninetworks.org/reports/fact-sheet-broadband-works-promoting-competition-local-choice-next-generation-connectivity#commentscedar fallsfact sheetfederal governmentiowalocalmuniWed, 14 Jan 2015 22:58:22 +0000lgonzalez5422 at http://muninetworks.orgCorrecting Community Fiber Fallacies: The Reality of Lafayette's Gigabit Networkhttp://muninetworks.org/reports/correcting-community-fiber-fallacies-reality-lafayettes-gigabit-network
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Christopher Mitchell </div>
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<p>In just the last year the Lafayette Utility System (LUS) gigabit network <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/three-new-companies-move-silicon-bayou">has attracted 1,300 high-tech jobs</a>. Chairman Wheeler <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/wheeler-praises-lafayettes-network-deployment-natoa-conference">praised the network</a> for doing what many communities hope to do, but cannot because of state laws limiting municipal broadband networks. Critics are desperate to discredit the network, using false statements and misinformation.</p>
<p>The Reason Foundation released a paper by Steven Titch in November, 2013, to discredit <a href="http://www.lusfiber.com">LUS Fiber</a>. Here we offer a point-by-point rebuttal of the report. Titch makes numerous claims that he does not support with any evidence. Much of the evidence he uses in support of other claims is out of context or erroneous. And even then, his worst criticism is that the network may struggle in the future but is not currently failing.</p>
<p>Our critical response to the Reason Foundation's report should be helpful to any community considering its own municipal network investment. This document includes common arguments and responses both for and against such networks.</p>
<p><a href="http://ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2014/10/fiberfallacieslusfiber.pdf">Download </a>or read <a href="http://www.ilsr.org/fiber-fallacies-lusfiber/">the full report at ILSR.org</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://muninetworks.org/reports/correcting-community-fiber-fallacies-reality-lafayettes-gigabit-network" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://muninetworks.org/reports/correcting-community-fiber-fallacies-reality-lafayettes-gigabit-network#commentscorrecting community fiber fallaciesfoundationFTTHlafayettelouisianamisinformationreasonreportMon, 12 Jan 2015 18:21:17 +0000lgonzalez5415 at http://muninetworks.orgAll Hands on Deck: Minnesota Local Government Models for Expanding Fiber Internet Accesshttp://muninetworks.org/reports/all-hands-deck-minnesota-local-government-models-expanding-fiber-internet-access
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<span class="date-display-single">September 23, 2014</span> </div>
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Christopher Mitchell </div>
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<p>Minneapolis, MN —In 2010 the Minnesota legislature set a goal: universal access to high speed broadband throughout the state by 2015. It is now 2015 and large parts of Greater Minnesota will not achieve that goal, even as technological advances make the original benchmarks increasingly obsolete.</p>
<p>But some Minnesota communities are significantly exceeding those goals. Why? The activism of local governments.</p>
<p>A new report by ILSR, widely recognized as one of the most knowledgeable organizations on municipal broadband networks, details the many ways Minnesota’s local governments have stepped up. “All Hands On Deck: Minnesota Local Government Models for Expanding Fiber Internet Access” includes case studies of 12 Minnesota cities and counties striving to bring their citizens 21st century telecommunications.</p>
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<li><strong>Windom</strong>, which is one of the most advanced networks in the state, built their own network after their telephone company refused to invest in their community.</li>
<li><strong>Dakota County</strong> showed how a coordinated excavation policy can reduce by more than 90 percent the cost of installing fiber.</li>
<li><strong>Lac qui Parle County</strong> partnered with a telephone cooperative to bring high speed broadband to its most sparsely population communities.</li>
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<p>Read how these and other communities took control of their own connectivity and their community vitality. Some did it alone while others established partnerships; each chose the path they considered the best for their own community.
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<p><a href="http://muninetworks.org/reports/all-hands-deck-minnesota-local-government-models-expanding-fiber-internet-access" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://muninetworks.org/reports/all-hands-deck-minnesota-local-government-models-expanding-fiber-internet-access#commentsanchor institutionsbuffalocarver countychaskacoopcountyfarmers mutual telephone coopfiberfiber-to-the-businessFTTHjobslac qui parle countylocalminnesotamonticellomunioverbuildpartnershipreportscott countywindomThu, 08 Jan 2015 22:30:00 +0000lgonzalez5400 at http://muninetworks.orgOpen Technology Institute Report Offers Overview of Public Broadband Optionshttp://muninetworks.org/reports/open-technology-institute-report-offers-overview-public-broadband-options
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<p>The <a href="http://oti.newamerica.net/">Open Technology Institute<a href="http://oti.newamerica.net/"> at the New America Foundation, along with <a href="http://www.ctcnet.us/">ctc Technology and Energy</a>, have released an overview of options for local governments that want to improve Internet access. The report is titled, "<em>The Art of the Possible: An Overview of Public Broadband Options.</em>"</a></a></p>
<p>The paper has been released at an opportune time, more communities are now considering what investments they can make at the local level than ever. <em>The Art of the Possible</em> offers different models, from muni ownership and partnerships to coops. The paper examines different business models and assesses the risk of various approaches.</p>
<p>It also includes a technical section for the non-technical to explain the differences between different types of broadband technology. </p>
<p>From the introduction:</p>
<blockquote><p>The one thing communities cannot do is sit on the sidelines. Even the process of evaluating whether a public network is appropriate can be beneficial to community leaders as a means to better understand the communications needs of their residents, businesses, and institutions and whether existing services and networks are keeping pace.</p>
<p>The purpose of this report is to enable communities to begin the evaluation of their broadband options. The report begins with an overview of different network ownership and governance models, followed by an overview of broadband technologies to help potential stakeholders understand the advantages and disadvantages of each technology. It then provides a brief summary of several different business models for publicly owned networks. The final two chapters focus on the potential larger local benefits and the risks of a publicly funded broadband project. </p></blockquote>
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http://muninetworks.org/reports/open-technology-institute-report-offers-overview-public-broadband-options#commentscablectc technology and energydsleconomicsfinancingjoanne hovisnew americaopen technology institutepatrick luceytechnicalWi-FiWirelessTue, 06 May 2014 15:40:24 +0000christopher5096 at http://muninetworks.orgMinnesota Local Governments Advance Super Fast Internet Networkshttp://muninetworks.org/reports/minnesota-local-governments-advance-super-fast-internet-networks
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<p>Local governments in Minnesota have been at the forefront of expanding fast, affordable, and reliable Internet access - often in some of the most challenging areas of the state. ILSR has just released a policy brief to explore some of these approaches: <em>Minnesota Local Governments Advance Super Fast Internet Networks</em>.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.ilsr.org/minnesota-local-governments-advance-super-fast-internet-networks/">full report is available here</a>.</p>
<p>The brief examines five communities that have taken different approaches to expanding access, from working with a trusted local partner to creating a new cooperative to building community-wide <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/1#term13"><cite title="Fiber-to-the-home. As most telecommunications networks use fiber in some part of it, FTTH is used to specify those that use fiber to connect the subscriber. Some claim they have a fiber-optic network because they use fiber to the node even when they use phone lines or a cable network over the last mile. FTTH may be more expensive to install currently, but offers significant savings in terms of maintenance when compared to copper alternatives.">FTTH</cite></a> networks. </p>
<p>Lac qui Parle County has worked with Farmers Mutual Telephone cooperative to bring fiber networks to those who had been stuck on dial-up. Finding itself in a similar situation with no reliable partner, Sibley County is creating a new coop to work with.</p>
<p>Scott County built a fiber ring to connect community anchor institutsion to dramatically expand access to high capacity networks and lower telecommunications budgets. That network has helped to lure several major employers to the area by leasing fiber to them.</p>
<p>Windom and Monticello have built FTTH networks in extremely challenging conditions. Though Windom is far smaller than most have believed is feasible to build such a network, it has thrived and is now connecting many of the small towns surrounding it. It was essential in retaining jobs in the community that would have been lost without it and has attracted new jobs to the region. Monticello is a younger network and has remarkably benefited the community even as it has struggled financially due to dirty tricks from the telephone and cable companies.</p>
<p>The policy brief makes some policy recommendations while focusing on some local solutions to difficult problems in ensuring all Minnesotans have fast, affordable, and reliable Internet access.</p>
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http://muninetworks.org/reports/minnesota-local-governments-advance-super-fast-internet-networks#commentsanchor institutionscoopcountyeconomic developmentfarmers mutual telephone coopfiber-to-the-businessFTTHjobslac qui parle countyminnesotamonticellomunioverbuildpartnershippolicyscott countysibley countystate lawsstimuluswindomwindomnetWed, 19 Mar 2014 17:57:45 +0000christopher5052 at http://muninetworks.orgSanta Monica City Net Case Studyhttp://muninetworks.org/reports/santa-monica-city-net-case-study
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Christopher Mitchell </div>
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<p><strong>Santa Monica has built a fiber network called City Net that has lowered its own costs for telecommunications, helped to retain businesses, and attracted new businesses to the community. Built incrementally without debt, it offers a roadmap any community can draw lessons from.</strong></p>
<p>Unlike the majority of municipal fiber networks, Santa Monica does not have a municipal power provider – City Net is run out of the Information Systems Department. The vision for the network and its expansion was created in the Telecommunications Master Plan in 1998, standardizing the procedure that we now call “dig once.” Careful mapping and clever foresight laid the foundation for growth.</p>
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<p><a href="http://muninetworks.org/reports/santa-monica-city-net-case-study" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://muninetworks.org/reports/santa-monica-city-net-case-study#commentscaliforniacase studyCost Savingsfiber-to-the-businessI-Netincrementalmunisanta monicaWi-FiWed, 05 Mar 2014 14:26:08 +0000christopher5039 at http://muninetworks.orgThe Empire Lobbies Back: How National Cable and DSL Companies Banned The Competition in North Carolinahttp://muninetworks.org/reports/empire-lobbies-back-how-national-cable-and-dsl-companies-banned-competition-north-carolina
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Todd O&#039;Boyle, Common Cause </div>
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Christopher Mitchell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance </div>
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<p>In late 2006, Wilson, North Carolina, voted to build a Fiber-&shy;‐to-&shy;‐the-&shy;‐Home network. Wilson’s decision came after attempts to work with Time Warner Cable and EMBARQ (now CenturyLink) to improve local connectivity failed.</p>
<p>Wilson’s decision and resulting network was recently examined in a case study by Todd O’Boyle of <a href="http://www.commoncause.org/">Common Cause</a> and <a href="http://www.ilsr.org">ILSR's</a> Christopher Mitchell titled <a href="http://www.ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wilson-greenlight.pdf">Carolina’s Connected Community: Wilson Gives Greenlight to Fast Internet</a>. This new report picks up with Wilson’s legacy: an intense multiyear lobbying campaign by Time Warner Cable, AT&amp;T, CenturyLink, and others to bar communities from building their own networks. The report examines how millions of political dollars bought restrictions in the state that will propagate private monopolies rather than serve North Carolinians.</p>
<p><strong><em>Download the new report here: <a href="http://www.ilsr.org/killing-competition-nc/">The Empire Lobbies Back: How National Cable and DSL Companies Banned The Competition in North Carolina</a></em><br /> </strong></p>
<p>These companies can and do try year after year to create barriers to community-&shy;‐owned networks. They only have to succeed once; because of their lobbying power, they have near limitless power to stop future bills that would restore local authority. Unfortunately, success means more obstacles and less economic development for residents and businesses in North Carolina and other places where broadband accessibility is tragically low.</p>
<p>It certainly makes sense for these big companies to want to limit local authority to build next-&shy;‐generation networks. What remains puzzling is why any state legislature would want to limit the ability of a community to build a network to improve educational outcomes, create new jobs, and give both residents and businesses more choices for an essential service. This decision should be made by those that have to feel the consequences—for better and for worse.</p>
<p>This story was originally posted on the ILSR website.</p>
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<p><a href="http://muninetworks.org/reports/empire-lobbies-back-how-national-cable-and-dsl-companies-banned-competition-north-carolina" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://muninetworks.org/reports/empire-lobbies-back-how-national-cable-and-dsl-companies-banned-competition-north-carolina#commentsat&tcenturylinkcompetitionfibrantFTTHgreenlightlegislationmuninorth carolinapreemptionreportsalisburystate lawstime warner cablewilsonThu, 03 Jan 2013 21:24:05 +0000lgonzalez4610 at http://muninetworks.orgWilson's Greenlight Leads North Carolina in Fast Internethttp://muninetworks.org/reports/wilsons-greenlight-leads-north-carolina-fast-internet
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Christopher Mitchell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance </div>
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<p>Following the collapse of key industries, a town of 50,000 in eastern North Carolina had to make a hard choice. It wanted to support existing businesses and attract new ones but the cable and telephone companies were not interested in upgrading their networks for cutting edge capacity.</p>
<p>So Wilson decided to build its own fiber optic network, now one of the fastest in the nation, earning praise from local businesses that have a new edge over competitors in the digital economy. In response, Time Warner Cable lowered its prices and modestly boosted available Internet speeds, contributing to the $1 million saved by the community each year.</p>
<p><strong>Download <a href='http://www.ilsr.org/wilson-fiber-greenlight/'><em>Carolina's Connected Community: Wilson Gives Greenlight to Fast Internet</em> here</a>.</strong></p>
<p>The Institute for Local Self-Reliance and Common Cause have just released a case study of how and why Wilson built Greenlight, a citywide next-generation fiber-to-the-home network that set the standard for connectivity in North Carolina. The report is authored by Todd O'Boyle of Common Cause and Christopher Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.</p>
<p>The network, owned and operated by the municipal utility, offer telephone, television, and Internet services to every resident or business in the city. Over 6,000 households and businesses have subscribed, a <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/1#term25"><cite title="The number of subscribers to a service - typically expressed in a percentage of those taking the service divided by the total number of people who could take the service. If a community fiber network passes 10,000 people and 6,000 people subscribe, it has a take rate of 60%. When planning the network, it will be built to be profitable at or above a certain take rate as defined in the business plan. Generally, networks require a few years to achieve take rates due to the long time it takes to connect each customer.">take rate</cite></a> of over 30% and growing. Additionally, the network has connected all of the schools with at least 100 <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/1#term18"><cite title="Megabits per second - a measure of speed. 8 Mbps means that 8 million bits are transferred each second. Using an 8 Mbps connection, it would take 1 second to transfer an 1 MB (Megabyte) file - a photo, for instance. Don't get lost in the details - when it comes to Mbps, more is faster. 1 Kbps (Kilobits)&lt;1 Mbps&lt;1 Gbps (Gigabits)">Mbps</cite></a> connections. Downtown has free <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/1#term29"><cite title="This is a suite of protocols that allow wireless devices to exchange information using unlicensed frequencies. Equipment carrying the Wi-Fi brand is interoperable. Recently, a number of cities and some private companies attempted to blanket their cities with Wi-Fi but the technology is not well suited to such large scale efforts. Wi-Fi has proved tremendously successful in homes and businesses on small cities.">Wi-Fi</cite></a> and the library has benefited with a higher capacity connection for people looking for jobs and taking computer classes.</p>
<p>The Federal Communications Commission ranks North Carolina last in the nation in percentage of households subscribing to at least a "basic broadband" service, largely because Time Warner Cable, CenturyLink, and AT&amp;T have declined to upgrade their networks to modern standards. Only 13% subscribe to a connection that is at least 4 Mbps downstream and 1 Mbps <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/1#term28"><cite title="Internet connections have two components - a downstream and upstream. Upstream refers to the rate at which the user's computer can send data to the Internet. DSL and cable networks frequently offer upload speeds at only 1/10 of the downstream speeds. This is one of the main reasons DSL and cable networks are insufficient for the modern Internet.">upstream</cite></a> -- the minimum required to take advantage of basic Internet applications according to the FCC.</p>
<p><em>This story was <a href="http://www.ilsr.org/wilson-fiber-greenlight/">originally posted on the ILSR website</a>.</em></p>
<p>This report is the first of two. The second will be published shortly and will feature a discussion of how Time Warner Cable reacted, pushing legislation through the General Assembly to block other communities from copying Wilson's success.</p>
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<p><a href="http://muninetworks.org/reports/wilsons-greenlight-leads-north-carolina-fast-internet" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://muninetworks.org/reports/wilsons-greenlight-leads-north-carolina-fast-internet#commentscase studycommunity savingscompetitioneconomic developmentfinancingFTTHgreenlightmuninorth carolinapublic safetysavingsschooltime warner cableutilitywilsonThu, 06 Dec 2012 04:33:02 +0000christopher4589 at http://muninetworks.orgChanute's Gig: Rural Kansas Network Built Without Borrowinghttp://muninetworks.org/reports/chanutes-gig-rural-kansas-network-built-without-borrowing
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Christopher Mitchell </div>
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<p>The Institute for Local Self-Reliance has just released a new case study on community broadband -- this one examines how Chanute, Kansas, built its own broadband network over a period of many years without borrowing.</p>
<p><strong>Download a PDF of <a href=" http://www.ilsr.org/chanute-rural-gigabit/'"><em>Chanute's Gig: One Rural Kansas Community's Tradition of Innovation Led to a Gigabit and Ubiquitous Wireless Coverage</em> here</a>.</strong></p>
<p>Local businesses are strong supporters of the network. From Ash Grove Cement to MagnaTech, business clients have remained satisfied subscribers. The network continues to encourage economic development and provides connectivity options that attract high <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/1#term2"><cite title="The rate at which the network can transmit information across it. Generally, higher bandwidth is desirable. The amount of bandwidth available to you can determine whether you download a photo in 2 seconds or 2 minutes.">bandwidth</cite></a> employers. The network generates $600,000 per year for Chanute’s Electric Utility, 5 percent of which goes to the general fund as a franchising fee each year.</p>
<p>Author Christopher Mitchell, Director of the Telecommunications as Commons Initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, believes Chanute can offer valuable lessons to other communities across the United States. “This community has demonstrated that communities can meet their own telecommunications needs with smart public investments — they did not wait for national corporations to solve their problems.”</p>
<p><strong>City Manager J.D. Lester refers to municipal broadband as “the great equalizer for Rural America,” saying: “You don’t have to live in Kansas City to work there.”</strong></p>
<p>The City also operates a 4G WiMAX network that connects public safety and is used to feed <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/1#term29"><cite title="This is a suite of protocols that allow wireless devices to exchange information using unlicensed frequencies. Equipment carrying the Wi-Fi brand is interoperable. Recently, a number of cities and some private companies attempted to blanket their cities with Wi-Fi but the technology is not well suited to such large scale efforts. Wi-Fi has proved tremendously successful in homes and businesses on small cities.">Wi-Fi</cite></a> hotspots throughout the community.</p>
<p>Local leaders plan to expand the network to offer access to all residents and businesses in the future as extending it become financially feasible. As it expands, it will offer the potential for smart-grid type investments in the gas, water, and electrical utilities — all of which are owned and operated by the local government.</p>
<p>One of the key lessons other communities can take away from this case study is how planning and prioritizing community investments in broadband can greatly benefit the community, especially local businesses. Chanute took advantage of several opportunities to expand what started as a very basic network over the course of many years at low cost.</p>
http://muninetworks.org/reports/chanutes-gig-rural-kansas-network-built-without-borrowing#comments4gat&tchanutecoxeconomic developmentincrementaljobskansasmuniopen accesspublic safetyruralschoolsmart-gridutilitywimaxWirelessTue, 02 Oct 2012 19:20:30 +0000christopher4496 at http://muninetworks.orgFlorida County Saves Millions by Building its own Broadband Network http://muninetworks.org/reports/florida-county-saves-millions-building-its-own-broadband-network
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<p>We have just released a paper revealing how Martin County saved millions of dollars by building its own fiber optic network to link schools and county facilities rather than leasing lines from Comcast. </p>
<p>The report, <em>Florida Fiber: Martin County Saves Big with Gigabit Network</em>, reveals how Martin County transformed the threat of a near ten-fold cost increase for its telecom budget into cost savings and new opportunities for economic growth. </p>
<p><strong>Download the <a href="http://www.ilsr.org/florida-fiber-gigabit/ ">Florida Fiber Report here</a>.</strong></p>
<p>“Martin County is a model example of how local governments can cut costs, increase efficiencies, and spur economic development,” according to Christopher Mitchell, Director of ILSR’s Telecommunications as Commons Initiative. “Local governments will need broadband networks in 10, 15, 30 years – they should consider owning the asset rather than leasing indefinitely.” </p>
<p>ILSR Broadband Researcher Lisa Gonzalez and Christopher Mitchell authored the report.</p>
<p>The new report highlights challenges the County faced, creative tactics used to reduce the cost of the investment, financial details on the incredible cost savings from the network, and how the new connections are already being used.</p>
<p>Though the County is not planning on offering services directly to residents or businesses over the network, the network has already allowed a local Internet Service Provider to expand its territory and offer some choices to people and businesses previously stuck only with AT&amp;T and Comcast. Additionally, the network is leasing dark fiber to some entities. </p>
<p>Florida law makes it difficult for the community to offer services to residents and businesses by imposing additional regulations on public providers that are not imposed on massive companies like AT&amp;T and Comcast.</p>
<p><em>If you want to stay current with stories like this, you can <a href="https://spreadsheets0.google.com/viewform?formkey=dF9ZdmFsam5FNHN1MTJXNkt4V3VsRGc6MA">subscribe to a once-per-week email</a> with stories about community broadband networks.</em></p>
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<p><a href="http://muninetworks.org/reports/florida-county-saves-millions-building-its-own-broadband-network" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://muninetworks.org/reports/florida-county-saves-millions-building-its-own-broadband-network#commentsat&tcomcastcountydark fiberfloridaI-Netleasemartin countyreportruralsavingsWed, 20 Jun 2012 15:03:03 +0000christopher3985 at http://muninetworks.org